Wave sprinkler



March 3, 1970 R. A. GILMOUR WAVE SPRINKLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed April 23. 1968 VAEMBM WIT l I F044 I I I l 1 ME %m n f A W W Z United States Patent O 3,498,543 WAVE SPRINKLER Robert A. Gilmour, Gilmour Manufacturing Co., Somerset, Pa. 15501 Filed Apr. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 723,505 Int. Cl. B05b 3/14 US. Cl. 239-442 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wave-type sprinkler wherein the oscillated head includes a plurality of flexible tubular portions cantilevered from an inner end of each. The tubular portions include longitudinal rows of outlet ports. The outer end of each tubular portion is individually vertically arcuately adjustable to vary the width of sprinkling pattern, measured in the sense from inner end to outer end, provided by the respective flexible tubular portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to lawn sprinklers and more particularly to improvements in the sprinkler head of wavetype lawn sprinklers rendering the sprinkler capable of adjustment with respect to the width of the water pattern.

Wave-type lawn sprinklers have been known for many years; however, in recent years they have received increased acceptance in the commercial market. The wave type lawn sprinklers currently enjoying widespread commercial acceptance usually include means for adjusting the angular extent of the oscillatory movement of the sprinkler head in conjunction with adjustment of the position within which the arcuate oscillatory movement takes place. Thus, it is conventional to provide an adjusting knob which enables the operator to select a full oscillatory motion both to the left and to the right of the sprinkler, a limited oscillatory movement either to the left or to the right and a relatively limited oscillatory movement both to the right and to the left.

It is recognized to be desirable to increase the versatility and capability of conventional wave-type lawn sprinklers by providing, in addition to the conventional adjustments noted above, an adjustment which would vary the width of the water pattern. (The term width as used herein refers to the dimension of the water pattern of the sprinkler measured in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the oscillation.) Thus, with the conventional adjustments the length of the water patern can be readily adjusted but the width of the water pattern remains the same.

There have been many different mechanisms proposed for providing width adjustment in wave-type sprinklers. One early proposal, which has not received any widespread commerical acceptance, is to construct the sprinkler head of a plurality of sections which may be moved into any one of a plurality of dilferent positions of telescopic relation with respect to each other to achieve variation in the width of the water pattern. Another proposal, which has received some acceptance, is to provide a plurality of sprinkler heads each capable of delivering a water pattern of a different width and mounting the plurailty of different sprinkler heads in turret fashion so that any one of the plurality provided can be selectively utilized.

Still another proposal, which as far as is known has not achieved commercial acceptance, involves the utilization of a conventional sprinkler head constructed of flexible tubular stock retained in a bow configuration which is adjustable to vary the width of the water pattern by moving the ends of the flexible tubular sprinkler head toward and away from each other, varying the amount of "ice bowing and hence providing a limited amount of variation in the width of the water pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler head construction for a wave-type lawn sprinkler which is capable of being adjustably positioned in a multiplicity of different positions providing the user with a range of width variations in the Water pattern which clearly exceeds variability possible with prior devices.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this result is achieved in the presently preferred embodiment by utilizing an elongated sprinkler head in cluding a central portion carried by a rigid oscillating structure and a pair of flexible tubular sections fixed to the central portion and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions. With this arrangement, the outer end portion of each of the flexible tubular sections may be moved and retained in a number of different positions of deflecture, in each of which the retained section is flexed in cantilever fashion either freely or in conformity to a rigid arcuate surface to thereby provide an evenly distributed variation in the width of the water pattern associated with each flexible section. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, means is provided for independently retaining the other end portion of each flexible tubular section in any one of a plurality of positions into which it is flexed to obtain the desired variation in the width of the water pattern.

Because the tubular sections are cantilevered from a central point rather than being bowed by compression: (a) the tubular sections may be independently adjustable to like or differing curvature and (b) a broader selection of materials may be used in fabricating the tubular sections.

In order to provide a more accurate control over the fiexual configuration of the flexible tubular sections over the full range of a movement of the outer end portions thereof, the rigid structure which carries the center portion of the sprinkler head is, in accordance with principles of the present invention, provided with rigid curved surfaces which are progressively engaged by the respective flexible tubular sections as the outer end portions thereof are moved toward a position of maximum cantilever deflection.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable width sprinkler head of the type described which is simple in construction, effective in operation and economical to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The principles of the invention will be further hereinafter discussed with reference to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment is shown. The specifics illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify, rather than limit, aspects of the invention as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wave sprinkler embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4.4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of the range of patterns that can be achieved by the sprinkler of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the wave-type lawn sprinkler is shown including a housing or body 11, a sprinkler head assembly 12, means within the body for directing water under pressure through the body for communication with the sprinkler head assembly (FIGURES 2 and 3), and means for eflecting oscillatory motion (FIGURES 3 and 4). Shown best in FIG- URES l and 3 is a unique supporting member 14.

The supporting member 14, preferably bent from tubular metal stock, although it could be made of plastic material, includes a pair of ground-engaging runners 92 which proceed generally horizontally, longitudinally, spaced transversely from one another and a generally U-shaped support standard 94, formed by partly doubling the central portion of the tubular member 14 upwardly and rearwardly so as to have its central portion above and intermediate the runners 92. The support standard 94, on the rear side of its center, has an opening formed therein in which a sleeve bearing 96 of resilient plastic material is frictionally received. The longitudinal axis of the throughbore through the bearing 96 is horizontal and directed longitudinally of the sprinkler 10.

Nearer the free ends of the runners 22, a cross member 100 is secured to the runners, for instance, by means of screws 102 threadably received into the bottom of the cross member through vertically aligned openings through the respective runners. In the embodiment shown, the cross member 100 is an integral part molded of plastic material; other material such as aluminum or zinc metal could be used. Midway between the runners 92, the housing or body 11 is mounted on the cross member 100, for instance, by screws 104. The housing 11 may be made from material similar to the cross member and the main part of the housing could be made integrally with the cross member, as should be evident from FIG- URE 3.

The details of the apparatus elements within the hous ing 11 are not, by themselves, considered to be unique and therefore will be described generally.

The housing 11 has an inlet 16 adapted to be communicated with a source of water under pressure, for instance, to a common garden hose attached at one end to a household outside water faucet and at the other end to the sprinkler inlet 16 via internal threads 20 on the latter. In the embodiment shown, the inlet 16 comprises a tubular opening 21 on the housing 11, adjacent the outer end of which is received a resilient sealing ring 23. An annular connector 22, on which the interior threads 20 are internally located, has an annular, axially outwardly facing reduction shoulder 19 near the inner end thereof. A tubular bushing 25 having a radially outwardly projecting circumferential flange 27 is pushed into the bore of the connector 22 from the outer end of the connector so that the flange 27 abuts the shoulder 19. The sleeve of the bushing 25 is then inserted in the tubular opening 21 and advanced therein until the connector 22 abuts the sealing member 23. The bushing 25 sleeve is secured in the opening 21 by an interference fit, by solvent welding, heat welding or similar conventional techniques. The conncetor 22 is thus mounted for rotation on the member 25. An annular gasket of resilient material is received within the connector 22 against the flange 27. Thus the connector 22 may be rotated to draw the mating connector of a hose end into fluid-type sealing engagement with the gasket 17.

The housing 11 main portion 11a is cup-shaped, opening toward the U-shaped support standard 94. The housing is completed by a domed cover plate 11b removably closing the housing main portion open end. In the embodiment shown, the cover 11b and main portion 11a are sealed to one another by an annular gasket 11c and secured to one another by a plurality of screws 11d. The housing '11 further includes an outlet 18 through the cover 11b in longitudinal axial alignment with the bearing 96 on the support standard 94.

Within the housing 11, the tubular opening 21, at its inner end, is connected to a tubular conduit 62 having a closed inner end and an upwardly directed lateral opening 64. A gear housing 81 is defined between part of the inside of the cover 1111 and an upwardly extending wall 62a on the conduit 62. A shaft 78, rotatably mounted in the housing on bearings 83, 84 protrudes horizontally, longitudinally, to a point above the opening 64. A water wheel or impeller 68 is secured on the protruding end of the shaft 78. The impeller 68 is provided about its outer periphery with a series of impulse or reaction blades 76, positioned to be impinged upon by fluid under pressure streaming through the opening 64. Within the gear housing 81, a first worm gear is secured on the shaft 78. The worm gear 80 drivingly engages a gear 82 which is in turn secured on a shaft 87. The shaft 87 is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis via bearings 89. A second worm gear 86 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 87 at a point axially spaced from the gear 82. The second worm gear 86 is in driving engagement with a gear 88, in turn mounted on a stub shaft 90. The stub shaft 90 protrudes outwardly through the housing cover 11b via a sleeve bearing 91. It should be apparent that the elements within the housing 81 serve as a reduction gearing train reducing the rotational speed and increasing the torque at the output shaft 90, compared to the impeller 68.

The rotating shaft 90 provides input to a convention, adjustable camming assembly for converting rotational motion into variable amplitude oscillating motion. This oscillating regulatory means is generally illustrated at 36 and serves, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, to provide and control oscillation of the sprinkler head assembly 12 via a link 35.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the sprinkler head assembly is shown comprising a supporting, oscillatory motion transmitting and fluid conducting structure 24 and an elongated sprinkler head 26. The structure 24 includes a tubular shaft 30 rotatably and sealingly secured at one end thereof in the housing 11 outlet opening 18. The oscillating link 35 is secured to the tubular shaft 30 for imparting oscillatory motion to the shaft 30 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30. A tubular elbow 32 is sealingly secured on the opposite end of the shaft 30, for instance by a friction fit, solvent welding, heat welding or the like. The elbow 32 is shown having a cylindrical trunnion 98 integrally formed on the exterior thereof opposite and proceeding in a coaxially opposite sense from the horizontal leg of the elbow 32. The trunnion 98 is journalled for rotation in the bearing 96 of the support standard 94. A tubular shaft 34 is sealingly fixedly secured to the upwardly directed leg of the elbow 32. At its upper end, the tubular shaft 34 has an upwardly cylindrically concave saddle 34a. The upper end of the throughbore of the tubular shaft 34 communicates through the saddle 34a. Two extensions 41 proceed in opposite longitudinal senses from the saddle 34a to which one end of each is mounted. The saddle extensions 41, as they proceed from the saddle 34a, curve downwardly in a gentle are. To assist in support of the saddle extensions 41, braces 40 are provided. Each brace 40 is secured at one end to the tubular shaft 34 near its lower end and is secured to a respective one of said saddle extensions intermediate the ends of the respective extensions. In instances where the head portions just described are made of metal, the connections just described may be welded connections, as should be apparent.

Between the saddle extensions 41, an axially short central tubular member 38 is mounted on the saddle 34A. The tubular portion 38 includes a longitudinal throughbore 46 intersected intermediate its longitudinal extent by a lateral opening 44 which is aligned with the opening of the bore of the tubular shaft 34 through the saddle 340. An axially outwardly opening concentric recess 42 is formed in each end of the tubular member 38. Each re tubular sprinkler head section 28.

The axially outer ends of the flexible tubular sections 28 lie above the axially outer ends of the saddle extensions 41. By way of example, the composite axial length of the two flexible tubular sections 28 and central tubular portion 38 may be about 11.5 feet long, although the principles of the invention are by no means limited to devices of this size.

Along their upper surfaces, the flexible tubular sections 28 are provided with a plurality of generally upwardly opening, longitudinally spaced openings 52. One or more similar openings 48 may be formed through the upper surface of the central tubular portion 38. In the embodiment shown, because the flexible tubular sections 28 are extruded members, separately formed annular nozzles 54 are mounted in the openings 52. It would, of course, be possible to form nozzles integrally with the flexible tubular sections 28, and to do so would be within the purview of the present invention. A nozzle 50, similar to the nozzles 54, is shown mounted in the opening 48 in the central tubular portion 38.

It should now be apparent that a fluid, for instance water, entering the sprinkler housing via the inlet 16 proceeds through the elements 25 ends 21 through the opening 64, turning the water wheel 68 and leaving the housing '11 via the outlet 18, still under pressure. Meanwhile, the rotary motion imparted to the water wheel 68 is translated viathe gear train within the housing 81, the adjustable oscillating mechanism 36 and the connecting link 35, into oscillating motion of the sprinkler head 24 about the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft 30 and trunnion 98. Thus, the pressurized fluid passing through the bore of the shaft 30, the elbow 32 and the shaft 34 proceeds into the central tubular portion 38 at 44. The major portion of the'fluid is supplied by the central tubular portion 38 to the two flexible tubular sections 28 via the bore 46 of the central tubular portion 38, whereupon it exits from the flexible tubular sections 28 as sprays or streams from the nozzles 54. In instances where the central tubular portion 38 is also provided with nozzles, such as 50, a minor portion of the fluid entering the central tubular portion 38 exits as sprays or streams from the nozzle or nozzles 50 of the central tubular portion 38.

As should be apparent, the oscillatory motion of the sprinkler head 24 about the oscillation axis A, moves the flexible tubular sections 28 toward and away from the viewer of FIGURE 3 and leftwardly and rightwardly in respect to the viewer of FIGURE Z. In FIGURES 1, 2

and 3 the sprinkler head assembly 24 is shown, in full lines, at the angularly intermediate point on its half of full oscillation, i.e. aligned with a vertical plane passing longitudinally of the sprinkler. In FIGURE 2, the sprinkler head assembly 24 isalso shown, in dashed lines, in a 1 second portion intermediate the full line position and the from the oscillation axis A, to flex the respective section in cantilever fashion and thereby vary the width of the water pattern associated with each flexible section. The

' outer end of each respective flexible tubular section may be fixed in any one of a plurality of different positions relative to the oscillation axis A by retaining means. In

the embodiment shown, the retaining means include, for

each flexible section 28, 'arigid upright post 56, the lower end of which is secured to the respective saddle extension ..member 41 near the outer end thereof and projects up- I wardly in the plane of the sprinkler head assembly 24,

away from the oscillation axis A. The outer end of each flexible tubular section 28 is provided with a closure plug v 58, sealing the outer end thereof. A diametric opening 57 through each flexible tubular section 28 and plug 58 near the outer end of each flexible tubular section 28 has the longitudinal axis thereof generally parallel to the plane of the sprinkler head assembly 24. The openings 57 freely receive the respective posts 56, and the upper ends of the posts 56 are bent, upset, or otherwise provided with an enlargement 60 to limit movement of the flexible tubular sections 28 between the extreme shown in FIGURE 3, wherein the outer end of the flexible tubular member shown abuts the enlargement 60, and the extreme shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the flexible tubular sections 28 conformingly engage the saddle extensions 41 throughout their full length.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be noticed that the posts 56 are so constructed and oriented in respect to the openings 57 that the outer end portions of the fiexible tubular sections may be freely slid along the respective posts 56. For instance, between the etxtrem es A and C shown in FIGURE 1, including all intermediate positions such as the position B shown in FIGURE 3. The flexible tubular sections are individually adjustably maintained in the desired deflected condition by means such as thumb screws 59 exteriorly received through threaded openings which intersect the diametric openings 57. For instance, with the respective thumb screw 59 loosened somewhat, a flexible tubular section outer end is moved upwardly or downwardly along the respective post 56 to the desired new location whereupon the respective thumb screw 59 is retightened.

It should now also be noticed that as either flexible tubular section 28 is moved from nearer its A position toward its C position, it progressively engages the respective saddle extension 41 starting from the central tubular portion 38 and proceeding outwardly. It should thus be seen that firm support for the flexible tubular sections is increasingly supplied in direct proportion to their degree of cantilevered deflection.

The links of the pattern of sprinkling provided by the sprinkler 10 is determined by the oscillating motion of the sprinkler head assembly 24 as provided by the adjustable mechanism 36. The width of the sprinkling pattern is determined by the degree of deflection of each of the two flexible tubular sections 28, each of which is individually adjustable through increments of size chosen by the user.

The curve defined over the length of the saddle extensions for elongated sprinkler support members 41 is generally parabolic, but it should be understood that the arc defined by the cantilevered flexible tubular sections 28 changes with each positional adjustment along the posts 56. Thus, at position A of either tubular section there is little curvature of the flexible tubular section along its length, but as the tubular section is adjusted downward, toward the saddle extensions for elongated sprinkler head support members 41, the cantilevered curve defined by the respective tubular section changes gradually from circular arcuate to parabolic as the flexible section increasingly conforms along its length to the curve defined by the respective elongated sprinkler head support member 41. At an intermediate position, such as the position B shown in FIGURE 3, .the curve defined by the flexible tubular section is generally circular arcuate. In the extreme position C, wherein the flexible tubular section conforms to the elongated sprinkler head support member 41 along its full .length, the flexible tubular section is generally parabolically curved.

As each flexible tubular section is adjusted between the extremes of position A and position C, each nozzle 54 assumes a different angle relative to the right angle represented by the interception of pipe 34 with the central tubular portion 38. The angles between the center nozzle 50 and each nozzle 54 in progressive succession outward along the tubular sections, proportionately decrease so long as the respective flexible tubular sections are in any given position short of maximum cantilevered deflection, position C. In that position, the curve is parabolic and the angles between adjacent nozzles are more nearly uniform.

According to the principles of the present invention the width of the water pattern formed by the angles between the nozzles may be accurately determined and controlled. Because the flexible tubular sections 28 are cantilevered from a centrally located rigid oscillating structure and flexibly positioned relative to rigid parameters determined by the shape of the elongated sprinkler head supports 41 and the length and angle of the retaining means 55, 59, more versatile and complete with control of sprinkler patterns is provided than as heretofore been attainable.

With reference to FIGURE 5, older conventional wavetype sprinklers have only oscillatory adjustment means, designed to assume anyone of four basic spray pattern lengths: full (both directions), narrow (both directions), full (right only) and full (left only). Attempts to provide variation in wave-type lawn sprinkler sprinkling patterns, in addition to the variation in sprinkling pattern lengths, have met with very limited success.

Recent attempts to attain variation in sprinkler pattern width are exemplified by the turret type of lawn sprinkler. This turret type comprises a composite of several sprinkler heads each having a different width pattern. When a particular width is desired, the user rotates into operative position the sprinkler head whose pattern most nearly approximates the desired pattern. In this process the other heads of the turret sprinkler are rotated out of operative positions. The limitations of such a device are patent, in that not only is such a device expensive to manufacture but also only a very limited number of sprinkler heads may be provided without making the device unwieldy. With reference to FIGURE 5, were a turret type sprinkler to contain three sprinkler heads which could vary the width patterns to sprinkle to the outer edges of sections A-1 and A1', or to the edges of sections B-1 and B-1 or to the edges of sections C1 and C1', because the turret sprinkler heads are each fixed, increments smaller or larger than the fixed increments A-1 and A1', B-1 and B-1' or C-1 and C-1' could not be sprinkled. Another drawback is that the multiple sprinkler head turret sprinkler sprinkling pattern necessarily symmetrically covers regions adjacent both ends of the sprinkler. In other words, if one sprinkler head is used, A-1 and A-1' must both be sprayed. The user could not choose to sprinkle between the edge of A-1 and the edge of B1 or between the edge of C-1 and the edge of D-1', and so forth.

It has been proposed to provide adjustable width sprinkling patterns using a single elongated tubular head made of springy resilient material having its opposite ends confined between supports which are movable toward one another to bow the sprinkler head by placing it in compression. Although such a device has been proposed, the absence of devices of this type in the market place seems to indicate that either its design proved unacceptable for manufacture or unpopular with users. One evident shortcoming of such a sprinkler is that the bOWiIlg identically affects both ends of the sprinkler head. Thus, adjustment of the extent of bowing increases or decreases the width of the sprinkling pattern at both ends of the pattern. Adjustment of the width a one end of the pattern is impossible. Furthermore, temperature and compressive stress histories would undoubtedly adversely affect operation and control of such sprinklers.

In contrast, the sprinkler according to the present invention, beside being of adjustable oscillation amplitude to control the sprinkling pattern length, is individually adjustable at both ends of the sprinkler head in increments of size chosen by the user, to confine and extend the sprinkling more easily and precisely to the area desired. For instance, using the sprinkler 10, it would be possible to sprinkle sections A-1, B-1 and C-1 without sprinkling sections A-l', B-1' and -1; or it would be possible to sprinkle the full left center section and sections A-Z', B-2' and 0-2, without sprinkling the remainder of the area. Of course, it should be understood that many other patterns are possible using the sprinkler of the present invention and that the increments of adjustment may be smaller or larger than the examples depicted in FIGURE 5, since the user himself decides the size of the increment by his sliding the outerends of. the members 28 along the posts 56.

The flexible tubular sections 28 are preferably made of resilient polymerized synthetic resin material such as polyvinyl chloride, although other materials could be used.

It should now be apparent that the wave sprinkler as described hereinabove possesses each of the attributes set forth in the specification under the heading Summary of the Invention hereinbefore. Because the wave sprinkler of the invention can be modified to some extent without departing from the principles of. the invention as they have been outlined and explained in this specification, the present invention should be understood as encompassing all such modifications as are within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a lawn sprinkler of the type including a body having inlet means adapted to be communicated with a source of water under pressure, sprinkler head means carried by said body for oscillatory movement, means within said body for directing water under pressure communicated with said inlet means along a predetermined flow path and outwardly of said body for communication with said sprinkler head means, and means operable in response to the flow of water under pressure through said flow path for effecting oscillatory movement of said sprinkler head means, the improvement which comprises: said sprinkler head means comprising a rigid structure mounted for oscillatory movement by said oscillating means; and an elongated sprinklerfhead carried by said rigid structure for oscillatory movement therewith, said elongated sprinkler head including a central portion connected to said rigid structure and two flexible tubular sections fixed with respect to said central portion and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite. directions in a plane passing 'generally through the axis ofoscillatory movement of said rigid structure, said rigid structure including means for communicating water under pressure flowing outwardly of said body to the central portion of said elongated sprinkler head, said elongated sprinkler head having aplurality of openings therein spaced along the longitudinal extent thereof including openings in said flexible sections for directing the water under pressure communicating with the central portion thereof outwardly and onto the area to be sprinkled in a pattern determined by the oscillatory movement imparted to said rigid structure by said oscillatory means, the outer end portion of each ofsaid flexible tubular sections being movable generally in said plane toward and away from said oscillatory axis to flex said sections in cantilever. fashion to thereby vary the width of the water pattern associated with each flexible tubular section, and means for retaining the outer end of each of said flexible tubular sections in any one of a plurality of different positions into which the respective section is movable. I

2; The lawn sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the. means for retaining the outerend ofeach of saidfiexible tubular sections in any one of a plurality of different positions 'comprises:-two elongated sprinkler head supports, extending from connection to SKidzSPl'iHklCl' head near said centralportion, in opposite directions beneath the two flexible tubular sections, said elongatedsprinkler head supports, near said connection thereof, being generally horizontal and curving progressively downwardlyas said elongated sprinkler head supports proceed outwardly in said opposite directions; a guide post extending generally upwardly from each elongated sprinkler head support near the outer end thereof; andncoopera-tive securement means on said posts and said flexible tubularsections near the outer ends of the flexible tubular sections, for independently adjustably securing said flexible tubular sections near saidouter ends thereof to said posts at any desired proximity to said elongated sprinkler head supports.

3. The lawn sprinkler of claim 2 wherein said elongated sprinkler head supports, near said connection thereof, engagingly underlie the two flexible tubular sections, and wherein as said flexible tubular section outer ends are moved along said posts toward said sprinkler head supports, said flexible tubular sections progressively engage the respective sprinkler head supports over a greater part of the length thereof, the extreme of cantilever deflection of said flexible tubular sections being provided by engagement of the flexible tubular sections along the full length thereof with the respective flexible tubular sections.

4. The lawn sprinkler of claim 3 wherein the sprinkler head supports are parabolically curved along the length thereof.

5. The lawn sprinkler of claim 2 wherein said cooperative securement means on said posts and said flexible tubular sections near the outer ends of the flexible tubular sections comprise: plug means on the outer ends of the flexible tubular sections, a first lateral opening through each of said plug means, respective ones of said posts being slidingly received through said first lateral openings; an enlargement on the upper end of each post for confining movement of the respective flexible tubular section outer end to between engagement with the respective elongated sprinkler support and engagement with the respective enlargement; a second lateral opening through each of said plug means, intersecting the first lateral opening within the respective plug means; and a selectively advanceable and retractable securement element received in and protruding exteriorly from each second lateral opening, the securement elements, when advanced, engaging said posts to secure said flexible tubular section outer ends with respect to said posts and said securement elements, when retracted, allowing said flexible tubular sections to be independently slid along said posts to new positions of choice.

6. The lawn sprinkler of claim 1 further including: a unitary tubular support member of generally U-shape; said support member, adjacent the free ends thereof defining a pair of generally horizontal, transversely spaced,

ground engaging runners; said support member centrally thereof being doubled upwardly and partly back upon itself to provide a bearing mounting portion; the body of said lawn sprinkler being mounted on said runners; said means of said rigid structure for communicating water under pressure flowing outwardly of said body to the central portion of said elongated sprinkler head comprising: a first tubular shaft section having a tubular elbow thereon, the first tubular shaft section communicating with a first leg of said elbow, a second tubular shaft connected to and extending from a second leg of said elbow, said sprinkler head central potrion being tubular and being mounted on the end of said second tubular shaft section, means defining a lateral opening through said central portion in communication with the second tubular shaft section, a trunnion on said elbow, exteriorly thereof, in axial alignment with said first tubular shaft section; bearing means on said body and on said unitary tubular support facing said body, centrally of said bearing mounting portion; said trunnion being journalled in the bearing means on said unitary tubular support and the first tubular shaft section end opposite from said elbow being journalled in the bearing means on said body, with the longitudinal axis of said first tubular shaft section proceeding generally horizontally and longitudinally of said law sprinkler whereby the sprinkler head means is journalled for oscillation about said first tubular shaft section longitudinal axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,952,413 9/1960 Jepson 239-242 3,270,963 9/ 1966 J epson 239-242 3,282,509 11/1966 Starr 239242 3,355,110 11/1967 Thompson 239242 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner J. I. LOVE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 239247 

